Applicator having movable head



13, 157 G. SCHWARTZMAN 3,331,994

APPLICATOR HAVING MOVABLE HEAD Filed Dec. 7, 1964 PEG.

30 64 a Z 50 M ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofiice 3,33Lfl94 Patentedduty 18, 1967 3,331,094 APPLICATOR HAVING MOVABLE HEAD GilbertSchwartzman, 20 Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 Filed Dec. 7, 1964,Ser. No. 416,353 8 Claims. (Cl. 15-581) This invention relates to anapplicator adapted for use in applying metered amounts of medications,cosmetics, polish, paints, ink, and other fluids of various viscosity onappropriate surfaces.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of means forfacilitating the application of metered amounts of fluid to theapplicator head for application to appropriate surfaces, and forproviding means for maintaining the applicator Within a substantiallydome-like cover which effectuates a positive seal preventing fluid losswhen the cover is aflixed to the body of the applicator.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of noveldouble acting valve means which is automatically actuated and adapted tometer the flow of fluids from the applicator for obtaining a meteredflow of fluid onto the appropriate surface, independent of the contouror shape of the surface so that the fluid flow may be conveniently hadonto the applicator head, which is provided with bristles, in a mannerfacilitating the metered application of fluid.

One of the features of this invention resides in the novel movableapplicator head arranged to act in conjunction with the various parts ofthe applicator yet which is rotatable and longitudinally movablymounted.

One of the disadvantages of prior art daubers and applicators is thatthe applicator head, which is made of a porous resilient material, suchas foam rubber, becomes deformed and often loses the desired shapethereof while becoming saturated with fluid. In order to maintain thedesired shape, various inserts of sponge or foam material, reservoirs,or the like have been employed, but likewise these materials oftenbecome deformed and become saturated with fluid, and deteriorate as aresult of being constantly saturated with fluid. Further, it is verydiflicult to control the amount of fluid which will be dispensed by theapplicator in view of the fact that the applicator surface is constantlysaturated with fluid. By the use of a double action valve mechanismwhich is capable of metered control of flow of fluids since no reservoirneed be provided, and no sponge-like material is employed, it ispossible to provide an accurate disbursement of fluid from theapplicator.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of anapplicator having formed in one piece a body having a valve housing, aprojecting portion for fitting in the neck of a bottle or other fluidcontainer, an applicator head and a sealing cap or cover which is soarranged as to positively seal the applicator assembly when not in use,which applicator may be used for dispensing medications, cosmetics, shoepolish, ink or paints, in metered amounts, yet which is very inexpensiveto manufacture since it requires only one main body part.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a fluid applicatorwhich will be long lasting and not subject to deterioration whereinnumerous applicator heads such as brushes, combs, daubers, felt nibs orthe like may be employed with the identical construction valve assembly.

Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapplicator having an applicator head and a closure cap, which when thecap is in a closed position will form a vapor lock within the cover toprevent leakage and/ or evaporation of the fluid within the applicatoror from the applicator head.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a double actingspring actuated valve means for use in an applicator, which may be usedwith a plurality of different applicator surfaces such as brushes anddaubers for dispensing metered amounts of fluid without any modificationof the valve assembly.

Still further objects and features of this invention reside in theprovision of applicator which not only is inexpensive to manufacture andsimple to use, but which yields the unexpected advantage of permittingthe metering of fluid of various viscosities in a very even andautomatic manner, thereby preventing waste of fluid contained therein.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of thisinvention, which will become apparent as the following descriptionproceeds are attained by this applicator, a preferred embodiment ofwhich has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way ofexample only, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded longitudinal sectional view of an applicatorconstructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention asinstalled in conjunction with the container forming a part of theapplicator;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the applicatorillustrating the valve member in a closed position, with the removablecap attached to the applicator;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional detail view illustrating the valvemember in a second closed position;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional detail view of the applicator withthe cap or cover removed and the applicator head in contact with areceiving surface; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the applicator head with the cap removed.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views,reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate the applicatorformed of nylon, rubber or polyethylene comprising the presentinvention. This applicator includes a container 12, in which a body 14is fitted. The body 14 includes a projecting portion 16 of generallycylindrical shape, having a tapered lower end for convenience ofinserting the projecting portion 16 in the neck 20 of the container 12.Further, the body 14 includes a web 22 which is integrally molded withthe projecting portion 16. Extending upwardly from the web 22 is aflange or side wall 24 which terminates in an inwardly extending swagedupper lip 26. The interior edge 28 of the swaged lip 26 acts as a slipring collar which purpose will become apparent as the specificationcontinues.

The web 22 is provided with a raised central portion 46 having a taperedside wall 32 with a central opening 30 formed therein. The conicalsurface 34 of the valve assembly generally indicated as 36 cooperateswith the tapered side wall 32 of the central opening 30 toform a valveseat. The valve assembly 36 includes a helical spring 38 the lowerportion of which is integrally formed with a mounting ring 40. A helicalspring is employed so that the conical valve surface 34 will be rotatedslightly back and forth each time the conical valve assembly 36 isactivated up and down so that any sediment which may accumulate in thedispenser body 12 will not be able to clog the central opening 30. Themounting ring 40 is held in place by the swaged lower end 18 of the body14. The swaged end 18 of the body 14 retains the valve assembly 36within the body 14. The spring 38 is in a continually stressed positionunder compression so that the tapered walls 49 of the conical surface 34of the valve member 36 are continually urged into and against thetapered walls 32 of the opening 30 of the web 22 for the purpose ofclosing the opening and preventing the undesired flow or escape offluid. The upper end of formed with a flat surface 44 which when in thecompressed position shown in FIG. 1 extends above the raised centralportion 46 of the web 22. The raised central portion 46 is taperedandextends above the upper surface of the web 22. When in the positionshown in FIG. 1, the fiat end 44 of the conical tapered valve member 36extends beyond the uppermost point of the raised central portion 46 ofthe web 22.

An applicator head generally designated as 48 is formed of a flexibleplastic, rubber or nylon material, such as polyethylene,polyvinylchloride, having a generally circular shoulder portion 50 and aflat upper shoulder portion 52. Extending upwardly from the flat uppershoulder portion 52 is a neck portion 54 which terminates in an upwardlyextending peripheral lip 56 which encircles the applicator brush holdingsection 58. The brush holding section 58 is provided with a plurality offluid passages 60 which extend all the way through the applicator head48. A plurality of tufts of bristles or the like 62 are appended theretoextending outwardly of the brush holding section 58.

The applicator head 48 is fitted into the interior 64 of the body 14above the web 22 and then the lip 28 is swaged. Thus, the generallycircular shoulder portion 50 of the applicator head 48 is disposed inthe interior 64 of the body 14 in a manner so as to be rotatably encasedbetween the inwardly extending lip 26 and the upper surface of theraised central portion 46.0f the web 22. The interior edge 28 of theinwardly extending upper lip 26 encircles and loosely contacts the neckportion 54 of the applicator head 48. The shoulder portion 50 of theapplicator head 48 extends outwardly within the interior portion 64 ofthe body 14 so as to be in a very close spaced relationship to theinterior side walls of the body 14.

Once in position, the applicator head 48 is able to slide up and downwithin the interior 64 of the body 14 between the upper portion of theweb 22 and the lower portion of the inwardly extending lip 26.

The neck of the container 12 is provided with screw threads 65 whichscrew threads 65 are complementary to and adapted to cooperate with thescrew threads 66 which are formed in the cap 68. Located within theinterior of the cap 68 is a downwardly extending shoulder portion 70which extends across the interior of the cap 68. A dome orhemispherically-Shaped cutout or recess 72, into which the bristles orthe like 62 can fit, is formed in the cap 68.

In use, with the body 14 installed in the neck 20 of the container 12with the cap 68 removed, the applicator 10 is used in the followingmanner:

The entire applicator unit 10 is inverted so that the body 14 and thebristles 62 are facing downward toward the receiving surface asillustrated in FIG. 4. In this position, with the cap 68 removed fromthe container 12, the spring 38 exerts a force upon the conical valvemember 36 so as to urge the tapered wall 42 into engagement with thewall or valve seat 32, thereby completely closing off the opening 30 andpreventing the flow of the fluid from the interior of the container 12.In this position, the applicator head 48 is pushed toward the inwardlyextending lip 26 so that the flat upper shoulder portion 52 abuts thesurface of the inwardly extending lip 26. When the tapered wall 42 ofthe conical valve member 36 is in contact with the wall 32 therebyclosing opening 30 in web 22. No fluid can pass from the interior of thecontainer 12 to the applicator head 48. In order to permit fluid to passthrough the communicating bores 60 of the applicator head downwardpressure must be exerted on the applicator so as to cause the bristles62 of the applicator head 48 to contact the surface on which theapplicator is being used to apply material. When the applicator head 48is forced back from the inwardly extending lip 26 toward the web 22, theconical valve member 36 is pushed toward the inwardly curved lower end18 against the valve member 36 is the force applied by the compressionspring 38. As the conical valve member 36 is pushed toward the inwardlycurved lower end 18, fluid passes between the side wall 32 and thesurface 34 of the conical valve member 36 and out opening 30 in web 22.The amount of fluid which can pass through municating bores 60 islimited by the construction of this applicator since when the downwardpressure is applied to the container body 12 so that the bristles or thelike 62 press against the receiving surface, the base 74 of theapplicator head 48 comes into contact with and abuts the flat uppersurface of the upper extensions 46 of web 22. When the base 74 of theapplicator head 48 comes to rest against the flat upper surface of theraised central portion 46, a seal is created which serves to prevent anyadditional flow of fluid from the container body 12 through the bores 60in applicator head 48.

In order to obtain an additional flow of fluid, the user merelyactivates the applicator up and down so that the applicator head 48slides up and down within the body 14.

In order to obtain a positive seal and prevent any leakage from theapplicator when not in use, the threaded cap 68 is placed over theapplicator assembly and is secured on so that the shoulder portion 70 ofthe cap 68 comes into contact with the peripheral lip 56 of theapplicator head 48 thereby depressing the applicator head 48 so that thelower edge 74 of the applicator head 48 1 comes into contact with theupper extensions 46 of the web 22 thereby providing a positive fluidseal and preventing the undesired escape of fluid from the applicator10.

One of the features of this invention resides in the safety andconvenience of use of the applicator when applying strong acid oralkaline materials as are sometimes used in cleaning or treatingmaterials, since the necessity of spilling fluid onto a cloth or thelike is eliminated.

A latitude of modification, substitution and change is intended in theforegoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of theinvention will be employed without a corresponding use of otherfeatures. Accord-1 ingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims beconstrued broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scopeof the present invention herein.

I claim:

1. A fluid applicator comprising a body section, a valve assemblyincluding a conical valve member, an inwardly curved lower end on saidbody section, a compression spring integrally formed with said valvemember, means for maintaining said spring within said body section, aweb provided with a raised central portion, said web having an openingextending through said raised central portion and having tapered sidewalls defining said opening, a flange extending upwardly from said web,said flange having an inwardly extending upper lip, an applicator headhaving a shoulder and a neck, said applicator head being disposed withinsaid body between said web and said upper lip, and being axially androtatably movable with respect to said web, said lip, and said valvemember, said applicator head having a plurality of bores extendingtherethrough, and bristles appended to the outer surface of saidapplicator head spaced from said bores, said spring means urging aportion of said valve member through said opening into abuttingrelationship with said applicator head maintaining said applicator headin engagement with said upper lip and holding said bristles outwardly ofsaid side wall.

2. A fluid applicator according to claim 1 wherein said head is providedwith a peripheral lip, said peripheral lip extending above said outersurface of said applicator head, said peripheral lip encircling saidbores and said bristles.

3. A fluid applicator according to claim 1 including a container, saidbody section being received in said container, said container beingformed with a neck having the opening 30 and through the com screwthreads thereon, an applicator cap having screw threads on the interiorwall thereof complementary with said screw threads on said neck, and ahemisphericallyshaped recess centrally located in said shoulder forreceiving said bristles therein.

4. A fluid applicator comprising a container, a body section received insaid container, a valve assembly including a conical valve member, aninwardly curved lower end on said body section, a compression springintegrally formed with said valve member, means for maintaining saidspring within said body section, a web provided with a raised centralportion, said web having an opening extending through said raisedcentral portion and having tapered side walls defining said opening, aflange extending upwardly from said web, said flange having an in Wardlyextending upper lip, an applicator head having a shoulder and a neck,said applicator head being disposed Within said body between said weband said upper lip, said applicator head having a plurality of boresextending therethrough, and bristles appended to the outer surface ofsaid applicator head spaced from said bores, said spring means urging aportion of said valve member through said opening into abuttingrelationship with said applicator head maintaining said applicator headin engagement with said upper lip and holding said bristles outwardly ofsaid side wall, said applicator head being provided with a peripherallip extending above said outer surface and encircling said bores andbristles, said container having a neck provided with screw threads, athreaded cap secured on said neck, said cap having a recess therein forreceiving said bristles.

5. A fluid applicator comprising a container, a body section received insaid container, a valve assembly including a conical valve member, aninwardly curved lower end on said body section, a compression springintegrally formed with said valve member, means for maintaining saidspring Within said body section, a Web provided with a raised centralportion, said web having an opening extending through said raisedcentral portion and having tapered side walls defining said opening, aflange extending upwardly from said web, said flange having an in-Wardly extending upper lip, an applicator head having a shoulder and aneck, said applicator head being disposed within said body between saidweb and said upper lip, said applicator head having a plurality of boresextending therethrough, and bristles appended to the outer surface ofsaid applicator head spaced from said bores, said spring means urging aportion of said valve member through said opening into abuttingrelationship with said applicator head maintaining said applicator headin engagement with said upper lip and holding said bristles outwardly ofsaid side wall, said applicator head being provided with a peripherallip extending above said outer surface and encircling said bores andbristles, said container having a neck provided with screw threads, athreaded cap secured on said neck, said cap having a recess therein forreceiving said bristles, said cap having a shoulder therein, saidshoulder when said cap is threaded on Said neck to a closed positionengaging said peripheral lip and forcing said applicator head towardssaid raised central portion to close said opening in said web.

6. A fluid applicator comprising a container a body section received insaid container, 31 valve assembly including a conical valve member, aninwardly curved lower end on said body section, a helical compressionspring integrally formed with said valve member, means for maintainingsaid helical spring within said body section, a Web provided with araised central portion, said web having an opening extending throughsaid raised central portion and having tapered side Walls defining saidopening, a flange extending upwardly from said web, said flange havingan inwardly extending upper lip, an applicator head having a shoulderand a neck, said applicator head being disposed within said body betweensaid web and said upper lip, said applicator head having a plurality ofbores extending therethrough, and bristles appended to the outer surfaceof said applicator head spaced from said bores, said helical springmeans urging a portion of said valve member through said opening intoabutting relationship with said applicator head maintaining saidapplicator head in engagement with said upper lip and holding saidbristles outwardly of said side Wall, said applicator head beingprovided with a peripheral lip extending above said outer surface andencircling said bores and bristles, said container having a neckprovided with screw threads, a threaded cap removably securable on saidneck, said cap having a recess therein for receiving said bristles, saidcap having a shoulder therein, said shoulder when said cap is threadedon said neck to a closed position engaging said peripheral lip andforcing said applicator head towards said raised central portion toclose said opening in said Web.

7. A fluid applicator according to claim 6 wherein said conical valvemember and said helical spring are formed of polyethylene.

8. A fluid applicator according to claim 6 wherein said conical valvemember and said helical spring are formed of nylon.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,115,370 10/1914 Allen et al.15581 3,129,452 4/ 1964 Schwartzman 15566 3,169,267 2/1965 Luedtke 15566FOREIGN PATENTS 760,340 10/ 1956 Great Britain. 276,305 10/1951Switzerland.

CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner. E. L. ROBERTS, AssistantExaminer.

1. A FLUID APPLICATOR COMPRISING A BODY SECTION, A VALVE ASSEMBLYINCLUDING A CONICAL VALVE MEMBER, AN INWARDLY CURVED LOWER END ON SAIDBODY SECTION, A COMPRESSION PRISING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH SAID VALVEMEMBER, MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID SPRING WITHIN SAID BODY SECTION, AWEB PROVIDED WITH A RAISED CENTRAL PORTION, SAID WEB HAVING AN OPENINGEXTENDING THROUGH SAID RAISED CENTRAL PORTION AND HAVING TAPERED SIDEWALLS DEFINING SAID OPENING, A FLANGE EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID WEB,SAID FLANGE HAVING AN INWARDLY EXTENDING UPPER LIP, AN APPLICATOR HEADHAVING A SHOULDER AND A NECK, SAID APPLICATOR HEAD BEING DISPOSED WITHINSAID BODY BETWEEN SAID WEB AND SAID UPPER LIP, AND BEING AXIALLY ANDROTATABLY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID WEB, SAID LIP, AND SAID VALVEMEMBER, SAID APPLICATOR HEAD HAVING A PLURALITY OF BORES EXTENDINGTHERETHROUGH, AND BRISTLES APPENDED TO THE OUTER SURFACE OF SAIDAPPLICATOR HEAD SPACED FROM SAID BORES, SAID SPRING MEANS URGING APORTION OF SAID VALVE MEMBER THROUGH SAID OPENING INTO ABUTTINGRELATIONSHIP WITH SAID APPLICATOR HEAD MAINTAINING SAID APPLICATOR HEADIN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID UPPER LIP AND HOLDING SAID BRISTLES OUTWARDLY OFSAID SIDE WALL.